Who is Scott Stuart?
I’m an author, illustrator, chocolate eater, bad singer, overly enthusiastic dancer, husband and Dad.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
The easy answer is that I would be making animated movies. Besides that, I’ve always had a dream of working at a toy store (or a bookstore) during Christmas – but only if it is in a place where it is snowing, carol singers are just outside the window, and I am saving the toy store from a Christmas Eve robbery. So basically, I’d be living in Home Alone 2.
Who inspires you and why?
WAY too many people to list. There are so many who have inspired me in all sorts of ways – but the common theme is that they have chased something that they truly loved, in the face of uncertainty and disapproval, and come out the other side.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Somehow bring more empathy and more hope to the world. I’m doing my very best to make that happen already, through the stories I tell, but I feel like if we could just get more of those 2 things, the world would be a much better place. And then take radical action on Climate Change.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
This is tough because we love to travel. But my absolute favourite holiday was pretty close to home. Tangalooma (Moreton Island) in QLD – crystal clear water, dolphins, activities for everyone. It is perfect for a family holiday. However, if I’m flying solo – it’s straight to the snow.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
There are so many places to go in Melbourne! I absolutely love doing tours of this city because I love it so much, and each tour is different, but no matter who it is, I immediately will take them to every single chocolate café in Melbourne (because chocolate).
What are you currently reading?
We Who Hunt The Hollow by Kate Murray – it’s an awesome, Australian YA novel about a young girl from a monster hunting family who struggles to see anything impressive in herself. I only picked it up because it has a spectacular cover, and I am so glad I did.
What are you currently listening to?
Man Enough with Liz Plank, Justin Baldoni and Jamey Heath. It’s a great podcast challenging the bounds of masculinity and how we, as men, can help those around us.
Happiness is?
Playing board games with my family before dinner, and dance parties in the lounge room before bed.
What does the future hold for you?
Many more books in the works and coming to shelves very soon (the next ones are My Shadow is Purple in May, Who’s a Little Goose in September and my first Junior Fiction series Sapphire Sparks in March), but also looking to get more projects onto screen, so I’m going to be working very hard to make that a reality.
Scott is the Author and Illustrator of My Shadow is Purple – which is published by Larrikan House and available at all good book retailers from 1 May 2022.. For more information, visit: www.larrikinhouse.com.au for details.
Image: Scott Stuart (supplied)